920/1 Poetry and Short Stories STPM 2013

This question paper is set by MALAYSIAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL (also known as MPM). Comments are much appreciated. 

SECTION A : Critical Appreciation

(25 marks)

Answer only one question from this section.

 1     

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers

 Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Aunt Jennifer's finger fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.

The tigers in the panel that she made

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

Adrienne Rich

With close reference to the poem above, discuss how the poet uses symbolism and imagery to depict women and their position in society.

As I have posted before http://literatureforstpm.blogspot.com/search/label/Aunt%20Jennifer%27s%20Tiger contains notes and references you can relate to when you answer this question. 

Or

2                

SHORT STORIES: Malaysian Short Stories

"I'm thinking of stopping my son", she shouted above the noise of the tap. [page 142]

...

It was midday when she hung to dry the last handkerchief. The newly surfaced road that had looked so cool an hour before now scorched her bare feet. She regretted her vow to walk barefoot for the rest of her life. She remembered how she had thrown herself on the coffin and shrieked, "I'll wear no slippers! No other man will wear me! No other man!" [page 143]

K.S. Maniam: The Dream of Vasantha

With close reference to the passage, discuss the emotions felt by Vasantha and what these emotions reveal of her personality? 

Version of book used is Malaysian Short Story, edited by Llyod Fernando, publised 2005 by Maya Press Sdn. Bhd.

SECTION B : Poems

(25 marks)

(For this section you must base your answer on the prescribed poems in the syllabus)
Answer the question below.

3 With close reference to any two poems, illustrate how irony is used to comment on life and relationships.

There are numerous ageing themed poems that can be used to answer this question such as When You Are Old, On Growing Old and Sonnet 73. Link for When You Are Old; http://literatureforstpm.blogspot.com/2013/05/on-growing-old-john-masefield.html

SECTION C : Short Stories: Malaysian Short Stories

(25 marks)

(For this section you must base your answer on the prescribed short stories in the syllabus)
Answer the question below.

3 With close reference to any two short stories in Malaysian Short Stories, discuss issues relating to the themes of multiculturalism. 

Most popular choice of two short stories are Pasang by Pretam Kaur [ http://literatureforstpm.blogspot.com/search/label/Pasang ] and Through The Wall also by Pretam Kaur.

© Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia 2012